This is the history of TLC as written by Wendy Livingstone

• Loree Raine remembers, as does Jo-Ann Dykstra and her daughter Chrystelle, a Co-op that preceded TLC, at 7 Oaks Alliance Church, in about 1993. Maybe started by the founders of ACHSA – Judy & Tim Teer. There was a woodworking class that Peter Dykstra taught, and a sewing class (Chrystelle still has the bunny she made!)
• The initial impetus to develop our own Learning Center was Debra Bell’s book The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling  which was only published in 1997
• Loree Raine, Marilyn Schroeder, and Val Van Hamelin were the gals that started The Learning Center
• The book described a Learning Center that impressed Marilyn, so much that she had to tell Loree, who immediately cast the vision for it and said, “Marilyn, why couldn’t we do that?”  They immediately asked Val to join forming a planning committee and that got the ball rolling.  (planning 1997 – and the first TLC 1998)
• The first Learning Center was held at 7 Oaks Alliance Church, in 1998.
• The Learning Center moved to South Abbotsford Mennonite Church and continued there for 3 years
• We moved to Evangelical Free Church on Marshall for 2 years
• We moved to Northview for about 8 years, to 2011 (we had to move when the renovations actually demolished the classrooms we were using!)
• We have been at New Life – ever since!

Memories of TLC from the Original Planning Committee

Planning sessions were usually held at Marilyn’s home!  

• (Wendy) "I was a part of all but one TLC – I skipped the 1999 session because Daniel was born in Oct. 1998  - I had 7 children and not enough sleep that year!"
• (Marilyn) "It was a life-giving program for Marilyn (and most of us) that I thoroughly loved and enjoyed.  To see so many moms jump in with great enthusiasm was such a blessing."  
• Reflecting back on it, Marilyn wondered if this was the fulfillment of a prophetic word she received at one of our ACHSA retreats where, in the Bible, the daughter of Caleb (her name was Achsah) was given the upper and lower springs.  (ACHSA and Acsah – are pronounced the same – that is the connection)
• Another part of that fulfillment would be the Homeschool prayer meetings that started in Marilyn’s home and continues to this day.  That was where she received a huge downpour of the Holy Spirit through the faithful witness and prayers of Parin Kanani. (Muslim turned Christian – her children are both Christians and her son’s name means “The Sword that divides the Family” – her husband had been ordered to have her killed, but he loved her and let her move to Canada – you have to hear Parin’s testimony – it is Awesome!)
• "It’s nice for the women to have ‘older’ experienced homeschoolers around for their encouragement." (Marilyn meant Wendy & Jo-Ann!)
• A strong memory that stands out is Loree bringing in “Australian prickly walking sticks” (bugs!) which got a picture of her and 2 students in the local newspaper!  
• I also remember Wendy, teaching Etiquette and having an exciting party at the end; that we treated as a “Graduation” of sorts, at the Copper Room, at Harrison Hot Springs Hotel and we always included dancing. (The Etiquette Class was Linda Zupanzik’s brainchild) I remember having the old people in the restaurant, start off by scowling at our group as we were seated, then they stayed to see what the group was, and actually came up to me, later, and commenting on this having been the nicest group of young people they had ever seen! “Church group, right?” “Nope – Christian Homeschoolers!”
• Sharon Dyck did some nice woodworking with the boys and I (Marilyn) have one of those framed mirrors hanging in our cabin in Osoyoos. 
• JoAnn Dykstra did a session on drafting which really excited Marilyn’s eldest who went on to graduate from CTC in the drafting program. Jo-Ann also did finger painting for years with most of our littles!  
• June Isaak had a popular yeast baking class and that gave many a young man (as well as young women) a love for cooking.  
• Joan Trachuk’s Pysanky eggs 
• Sandra Frazier’s guitar class 
• Wendy’s Legal Quest! That included Mock Trials, and a day/field trip to the Surrey courthouse, and wearing all the fancy robes from the courthouse to play the parts for our Mock Trial, using an actual courtroom! (FYI - There is a school liaison with Surrey Justice Hill, and it can be arranged!)
• Val Van Harmelen taught “Dissection” classes; pig’s heart, cow’s eye, a fish and a frog! And Val had a final exam for the students to write!
• The hardest part of all was reassuring the women that they could do it!   I just loved seeing them move from insecurity and fear to presenting a great well-planned class. 
• Our coffee times were excellent for stimulation and encouragement.  So many good talks!   
• Marilyn remembers getting Aaron jammed in the elevator and having the church call out the repair guy.  She was shaken up because so many weird negative things had been happening to her family over a period of months.  As soon as she walked into the coffee room, the women listened to her concerns and Louise Welsh (our coffee-lady-extraordinaire) immediately jumped up and started praying over her.  Such a blessing that was.  
• There were very few conflicts and we always felt that homeschool mothers were the godliest women around.   We all needed to keep clinging to Jesus!  
• We have always had a Picnic Wrap-up for TLC